THE majority of county communities will continue to have a bus service past June after East Lothian Council awarded contracts for routes which First will terminate next month.

Services including the 123 Gifford Circle service and the 129 between Seton Sands and Ocean Terminal will continue running from next month.

It follows a tendering service from the local authority for its supported bus services, after First had announced in April it was axing 13 county routes - citing financial pressures and the economic climate.

The previous contracts had cost the council �198,000, with the changes costing an additional �60,000-70,000.

Up to 40 staff members at its Musselburgh depot could also lose their jobs.

Last week, the Courier reported that Lothian Buses had taken on the running of commercial bus routes to Ormiston and Pencaitland.

The previous 44B (Pencaitland-Balerno) and 44 (Whitecraig-Balerno) services have also now been registered as extensions to Lothian Buses' commercial routes.

The previous 110 service between Dalkeith/Elphinstone and Port Seton will be run by Edinburgh Coach Lines, as part of a contract awarded and negotiated by Midlothian Council.

Meanwhile, the 121 service between Haddington and North Berwick has been awarded to Prentice Coaches of Haddington, as well as the 123 route.

Ross Prentice, the firm's owner, said there would be a few alterations to the routes to incorporate Drem, Fenton Barns and Merryhatton Garden Centre on the 121, with an improved service to Pencaitland and Saltoun as part of the 123.

He added: "There will be a few changes here and there but nothing major. North Berwick is similar but there's some extra journeys and hopefully what people consider to be an improved route." Meanwhile, Dunbar-based Eve Coaches takes on the running of the 129 between Seton Sands and Musselburgh/Ocean Terminal.

Owner Gary Scougall said the service would have "better continuity" with a more straightforward timetable, adding: "We'll be putting on new vehicles for the duration of the contract and we'll offer the travelling public a very enhanced experience to what they've previous had." Details of the future of other affected services are still to be confirmed.